Our story

Do you remember your first flight?

The excitement, the anticipation, the butterflies in your stomach on take-off. In a hundred years, every aircraft in the sky will fly without harming our planet. At Vlindair, we want to bring that day closer: by accelerating electric aviation, pushing innovation and building Europe’s first all-electric airline.

Heritage

Once upon a time, the Dutch pioneered aviation.

With Amsterdam as home base, the Dutch did what many said could not be done. A century later, we are determined to do it once again. It will be challenging, but the journey has to begin now.

Why electric

Aviation needs a new playbook.

Aviation accounts for around 3% of global emissions, and its share is expected to grow. By 2045, international aviation is expected to emit more than one billion tonnes of CO₂ a year. On short routes, battery-electric flight is the most efficient answer: 82% of renewable energy reaches the aircraft, against 19% for e-SAF. Batteries keep getting lighter and cheaper, which makes electric flight under 500 km possible.

82 %

usable energy

of renewable energy reaches the aircraft with battery-electric flight, against 19% for e-SAF.

Source: CE Delft, January 2025

25 %

of flights are under 500 km

of all flights in Europe are under 500 km: the distance first-generation electric aircraft are built for.

Source: EUROCONTROL Aviation Long-Term Outlook 2024–2050

seats

The class of all-electric aircraft expected to enter service first, such as the Vaeridion Microliner.

Source: Manufacturer's expected specifications

Routes and regions

Europe is full of short distances.

A morning meeting in London, Brussels or Frankfurt that doesn’t take your whole day. A Netherlands that feels smaller, not by slowing life down but by making mobility fairer and cleaner. We are building a network that reconnects regions left behind by hub-and-spoke aviation and patchy rail links, starting with a green corridor between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. A small, densely populated country with over a dozen viable regional airports is the perfect testing ground.

The journey

From caterpillar to butterfly.

Phase 1 · We are here

The Caterpillar

We build the brand, the demand and the ecosystem: airports, regulators, manufacturers and partners.
Phase 2

The Cocoon

Once aircraft and infrastructure are mature, we become a full airline: team, governance, operating licence and landing rights.
Phase 3

The Butterfly

First flights on short regional routes that are underserved, inefficient or poorly connected by rail.
Phase 4

The Kaleidoscope

Scaling across Europe as larger electric aircraft arrive.

Honest about the bottlenecks

Invest with purpose.

That is why we grow in phases. Early capital buys position, demand and access to manufacturers, not aircraft or route risk.

For investors →

Emerging technology

Aircraft must mature and be certified, and most airports are not yet equipped for electric flight.
Chicken and egg

No aircraft at scale without customers, and no customers without aircraft. We build the demand first.
Geopolitical uncertainty

Electric flight reduces Europe’s dependence on imported kerosene.
Capital and time

Building an airline from scratch is capital-intensive and takes years.

Welcome on board.

Sietse Bakker

Co-founder and CEO

Over 15 years as a senior executive in media, events and the public sector, and an entrepreneur. Formerly Event Supervisor and Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest and Director of Amsterdam 750 Years.
Yona Hümmels

Co-founder and CMO

Over 20 years as a creative director for international brands, including KLM. Former creative head of TEDxAmsterdam. Energy and sustainability consultant.
Norbert Zoet

Chief Business Development Officer

Formerly at Transavia. [Bio to confirm with Norbert]
Merlijn van Vliet

Advisory board

Owner of NRG2fly, building charging infrastructure at European airports, and of E-Flight, the Netherlands’ first electric flight academy. Board member of Electric Flying Connection.
Gerben Groothuis

Advisory board

Senior executive in aviation, technology and sustainability. Leads Twente Airport’s commercial operation.